On Friday, March 30, young geography whizzes across the United States and U.S. territories will participate in state-level Geographic Bees, competing for a spot in the national competition in Washington, D.C., in May. The Bee is organized by the National Geographic Society. The 2012 National Geographic Bee is sponsored by Google Inc.; at the state level, the Bee is also sponsored by Plum Creek.

Up to 100 fourth- to eighth-graders in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, U.S. Atlantic and Pacific territories and Department of Defense Dependents Schools have qualified for the state Bees. Each state winner will receive $100, “The Complete National Geographic” on DVD and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals May 22-24 and the chance to be crowned National Geographic Bee champion.

School lunches are in the headlines quite a bit, these days. Most people are calling for the school lunch program to clean up its act and start feeding the nation’s children healthier fare. Truth be told, many people who brown bag it could stand to make their lunch healthier, as well. Whether packing lunches for school or work, there are ways to make them healthier.

“Sure, it’s easy to grab some junk food, throw it in a bag and call it lunch,” explains Jolly Backer, the chief executive officer of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). “Problem is, if you do that repeatedly, there will likely be some negative health consequences, over time. Making healthier lunches may require a tad more time and thought, but in the end it will keep you feeling better.”

Washington, DC-- February 19, 2012. It was a cold Sunday morning with snow on the horizon on the Howard University campus but inside there was a glow of positive youthful energy and talent thanks to the Xi Zeta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. 2012 Black History Youth Oratorical and Arts Contest.

The annual contest competition is designed to encourage DC area students to celebrate and embrace the contributions of African-Americans, past and present. Participants learned about the efforts of African-Americans and also had an opportunity to display their oratory and artistic talents in the categories of visual arts, music, the written word, and public speaking.

February is known as Heart Month in American, and for good reason. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. Each day, across the country, roughly 2,200 people that die from the disease. It’s also the leading cause of disability across the country, preventing people from working and living their lives as they would like to. With this in mind, it’s a good time to pay attention even to the little things that can either help or hurt the heart.

“Snacks may seem like trivial things, overall,” explains Jolly Backer, the chief executive officer of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). “But if you think about it in terms of a year, you will end up eating around 400 to 750 snacks per year, if you have one or two per day. That really adds up and can make a big difference in your heart health.”

From Melissa Salmanowitz: The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is assembling the smartest, most innovative and best paid teacher force in America, and applicants from across the country can now begin competing for spots in this highly selective teacher pool.

Dozens of events have been planned by schools throughout the Archdiocese of Washington to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, January 29 – February 6, 2012. This annual celebration highlights the contributions of Catholic schools through Masses, open houses and activities for students, families, parishioners and the community at large. The Archdiocese of Washington is home to 98 archdiocesan and independent Catholic schools, educating nearly 30,000 students in Washington, DC and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland.